Improved secretary-bedstead



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E. E. BRIGGS AND G. smoes, l oF BoSToN, MASSACHUSETTS.

I A Letters Patent No. 86,901, (lated February' 16, 1869.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all to whom these presents shall come;

Be it known that we, E. E. BRIGGS and M. G. BRIGGS, of Boston, in the county of Sublk,and State of Massachusetts, have made an invention of certain new and useful Improvements in Secretary, or kCabinet-Bedsteads; and do hereby declare the following-to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof', due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view, and

Figure 2, a vertical central and longitudinal section of our invention, as open', and ready for occupancy.

Figure 3 is a perspective representation of it in a closed state,"and when resembling in appearance an ordinary book-case, or secretary.

This invention relates to general improvements in the construction of a class of bedsteads k'ri'wn as secretary, or cabinet-bedsteads, or those which, ina closed state, resemble ordinary articles 'of furniture, the use of such bedsteads, as is well known, being to economize room, and make an apartment answer the double purpose of a living and sleeping-room.

lhe object of our invention is to give greater convenience for performing the toilet than has been heretofore accomplished in articles of a similar' nature, and also to enable the bed-bottom, and its bedding, to be lowered and extended, or elevated and contracted within the secretary, as the case may be, with ease and facility; the construction of parts, which admits of this latter, also providing ample room for reception of the. diierent toilet-articles and appurtenances when not in use.

Our invention consists in the employment of a shell or case,whose exterior counterfeits the appearance 'of an ordinary secretary, bookfcase, or any analogous article of household-furniture, the lower part of which serves to contain the bed-bottom, and beddingand its accompaniments, while the upper portion of such case serves to contain different toilet-articles, utensils, or

condiments; and in combining with such case a washstand, towel-rack, folding table or desk, mosquito-canopy, mirrors, Sto., in'manner and for the purpose as hereinafter explained. v

In the drawings above alluded to as accompanying this specification, and lwhich illustrate lour invention, the outer shell or case of the device is shown at A as resembling, in its outward appearance, an ordinary secretary, thelower part B, of 'such case, being provided at front with doors C C, while the main portion of' the upper part D, of such case,"is divided into two compartments, E E, providedvwith doors, F F, opening at the ends of the general structure, the compartments E E aiording ample space for the diiierent toilet-articles and utensils of the occupant.

rlhe doors F F have each a mirror, a, applied to its outer face, while a third and tilting mirror, b, is applied to the front of Vthe upper part of the secretary, as shown in the drawings` Two exposed drawers, cl tl, are disposed upon opposite sides of the mirror b, and below the compartments,

and open at the front of the case, while a third and concealed drawer, c, is disposed between the drawers al d, and opens at the back ofthe secretaryt As the secretary is at all times backed up closely against the wall of the apartment, this drawer is invisible and inaccessible, and serves as a safe and Secret receptacle for money or valuables of any description.

Upon one ofthe inner sides of the main or front Vdoors G C of' the secretary, is pivoted a wash-stand or tablet, j', properly constructed for receiving a wash-bowl; this tablet being folded ilatwise against the surface of the door, when not in use, and being provided with suitable brackets or turn-buttons, for maintaining it in a horizontal position if in use.

In addition to the wash-stand f, the door C is provided with two swinging towel-racks, g g, pivoted to the door, upon each side of the wash-stand, in' such manner. as to be turned closely in contact with the door, when the latter is closed.

These towel-racks are a matter of great convenience,

as, after the ablutions are performed, they, With the l towels remaining upon them, may be folded against the door, and thus remain until again needed. The opposite door C may be provided with a table l or desk, h, pivoted to it in manner similar to that of the wash-bowl, the table being very convenient as a y repository of different articles while the toilet is being made in front of the mirror a above it.

The two mirrors a a enable two individuals to perform their toilet at the same time, while the central mirror will be found very useful at any time-while the bed is closed within the secretary.

The bed-bottom, before mentioned, is shown at G as composed of a rectangular frame, i, made in two halves, and hinged together at the middle, in order that it may be folded and reduced to one-half its entire length when turned up within the secretary, as shown in the drawings. l

' A slotted or barred frame, composed of side-railsjj and cross-bars or slats k lc, 85e., is disposed within the frame t', and, like it, formed in two parts, hinged together at their inner' ends, and rests upon the upper or free ends of a series of yoke-shaped springs, ll, dto., the lower extremity of these springs, in turn', being supported by or resting upon ledges fm, m, applied to the inner faces of the side-rails jj, before mentioned.

By the employment of the side-rails j j, supported by the springs, as described, we are enabled to produce a bed-bottom which possesses the advantage of not sag ging in the middle, and being a durable, simple, and desirable support for a bed.

The frame t' is provided with an elastic cord or strap, extending, in a suitable manner, 'from end to end, to retain the bedding in place thereon while being folded and turned upwithin the secretary, and the frame should also be connected at its rear end. to the interior of the secretary, by a sliding connection, in such manner as to allow of its being withdrawn nearly from the case.

To facilitate this partial withdrawal of the frame and its bed, the former may be provided with friction-rolt ers, to bear upon the bottom of the secretary.

The lower portion B, or compartment of the secretary, is provided with two series of orifices, one being made through its bottom, as shown at m, and the other series through the upper part of its back, as' shown at n, the object of these orifices being to afford a means of ventilation to the interior'of this compartments and its contents.

Furthermore, we apply, within the compartment b, a mosquito-canopy, composed of a folding frame o, hinged to opposite sides of the compartment, at its upper front corners, and so as to fold within it, upon opposite sides of the bed-frame, the flame o being provided with two buttons, or their equivalents, for sustaining it in a horizontal position when unfolded and extendedA from the case, and over the bed, as shown in the drawings.

The two portions of the frame o are connected by a rule-hinge, and the outer portion drops, in unfolding, the rule-hinge thus supporting it in position.

The frame o, thus made, is to be provided witha gauze' canopy, or shield, of proper mate1ial,in manner as will readily manifest itself to 'intelligent persons.

The upper part, D, of the secretary should be applied to the lower part, B, in such manner as to be readily detached thei'efroimfor convenience in moving the secretary from place to place, or from one apartment to another. i

I would call attention to the fact that the hinges connecting the doors C G to the case A are so constructed of a single plate and stud, as to cause the doors, when open, to beV flat against the ends of the said case A.

It will be obvious, from the above description, that one advantage gained by our construction and arrangement of parts is, that all the appliances necessary for performing the toilet are exposedand ready for use, while the bed remains open or unmade, thus enabling the toilet to be completed without delay, consequent case. l The combination of tho mosquito-canopy with other parts of the device, is a matter of great convenience, as, while occupying no valuable space, it ati'ords a protection well understood and appreciated by every one.

The entire device is compact, durable, and ornamental, and may be 4manufactured at small comparative cost. Y

As bureau or wardrobe-bedsteads in various forms are now in common use, it is presumed that any person of ordinary intelligence will understand, from the foregoing description, the operation of lowering and extending the bed and mosquito-canopy-,A as Well as the washstand and table applied to the lower doors, so that further elucidation on this point will not `benecessary n this specication.

We claim the case A, bed .(Jr, canopy or frame o, wash-stand j; towel-racks g g, table h, and mirrors a, a and b, the whole being combined, arranged, and operating substantially as hereinbefore set forth and explained.

Y E. E. BRIGGS. M. G. BRIGGS.

Witnesses:

FRED. CURTIS,

EDWARD GRIFFITH.

upon lirst arranging and folding the bed within the' 

